Essex girl extraordinaire, former X-Factor finalist and I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! winner, Stacey Solomon, tells Ruth Supple why she is beside herself with excitement at coming to Milton Keynes to perform in her first ever panto this Christmas...

The chance to stay in one of the country’s biggest castles with the promise of Knight School, Horrible Histories and huge looming turrets to explore was like music to my eight-year-old audience’s ears.

A new health and fitness company set up in Northampton and Kettering by one of the top 100 trainers in the world promises to help people lose a stone in six weeks by following its exercise, nutrition and coaching programme. Ruth Supple found out more . . .

Grendon’s Lindsay Butcher, 36, is a mum and blogger, who pens the humorous And Other Idiots. A keen writer married to Lee, 47, she started her blog to journal what she says are “the hilarious, witty and frankly incredulous things my children said in their early years. As they grow up, the focus has inevitably widened to include husband-based idiocy”. Here she writes a guide to Edinburgh where she travelled to with her children, Rose, six, and Barnaby, three . . .

This is the 400th year of the anniversary of William Shakespeare’s death and Stratford-upon-Avon has a host of events to mark the occasion planned throughout the year. If you’re heading there, take a well-earned break for some refreshments at award-winning The One Elm, writes Ruth Supple...

Actor John Partridge talks to Ruth Supple about returning to EastEnders, not regretting his time on Celebrity Big Brother and how he’s looking forward to returning to Northampton this month to star at Derngate in the hit musical, Chicago . . . .

Whether you want to carry out your loved one’s final wishes to be buried with a favourite bottle of whisky, fancy having a non-religious baby naming ceremony for your new arrival or have always dreamt of being married on top of a skyscraper, in the middle of the woods or on a beach, newly qualified civil celebrant Jane Gower can help.

Two open days took place at the weekend for visitors to see the restoration work at historic Delapre Abbey in Northampton, which will turn it into a major tourist attraction. Ruth Supple went along to see the progress so far...

It’s the London Marathon this month when runners of all ages and experience will be raising millions of pounds for good causes. Personal trainer Becca Mclachlan has these top tips to encourage you to dust off your trainers and start pounding the pavements and trails around Northamptonshire...